Wednesday, August 10, 2011

One of my favorite times of the day is when I read aloud to my students. I reserve a spot beside the window for my big blue chair and clip our genre posters besides it. I usually call my students over and they sit on the floor right in front of me. I read somewhere: "Proximity breeds engagement" and I must say I agree!

Kids never cease to surprise me and here is an example: One day, I was getting ready to call students over and saw that they were a bit squirmy, so off the top of my head I made up this line:" OK, I'm looking for students who are quiet and calm because they are the ones getting the front row seats for my read aloud today. " Well you would have thought that I was offering a pound of candy! Mouths shut and heads plopped down on desktops (Don't you love how kids think they are being good when they lay their heads on desks??) All looking in my direction eagerly waiting to hear their name for the front row seats! All I can say is it is the power of a good story! I was so glad to see evidence that they love read aloud time as much as I do!

So after that I made up these Front Row Seat tickets that I sometimes hand out when I need kids to bring it down a notch, it works like candy! Who would have thunk it!!!